Can you discuss your experience working with Tommy Lee Jones?
It was great. When you are surrounded by good actors, your job is much easier. You are only as good as your co-stars, and he's amazing.

What was it like fighting Tommy Lee Jones? Is he as tough as he looks?
He's pretty damned tough (laughing). You want to fight on his team; you do not want to fight against him.

Director William Friedkin at the Premiere of "The Hunted."
Photo ©Rebecca Murray. All Rights Reserved.

She had to do a scene where everybody in the room were real FBI agents and she had to be the boss. That was very hard for her - you can imagine - talking to a bunch of FBI people and really being concerned about being authentic. It's more than just being an actor, you've got to pass muster with the guys who are doing this job - men and women. That was difficult for her, I think, but I think she's great.

Why was it important to have real FBI agents on the set?
I always do that. If I'm doing a film about law enforcement people or bad guys, I use the real thing. I use real doctors playing doctors. Not in major roles, but what happens is it gives the actors who are playing a scene - and let's say they are supposed to be playing a cop or a doctor or a lawyer - it helps them to work with real lawyers and doctors and cops because they get a lot of feedback about what they are doing, from the people who are doing that.

Have you ever encountered any actors who are intimidated by having the 'real thing' in a scene?
It happens from time to time - I'm not going to name them - but I've never met anyone who wasn't helped by it. They get a lot from it. If you are playing an FBI agent and you're doing a scene with FBI agents and they say, “That was good,” that's better than the director telling you that's good. They know, they do it every day. I love to use that ability, to use the real thing.

What impressed you the most about working with Benicio Del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones?
Their work ethic. They have the best work ethics of any actors I've ever worked with. They just don't stop. You can keep shooting with them all day and they would love it. They are absolutely marvelous people to work with. They arrive at the same destination from different directions. They have different methods.

Can you describe your style of directing "The Hunted?"
I talk to them about what we are trying to do and then I trust them to fulfill it. I don't rehearse with them. I don't believe in rehearsals. Once we have a chat about what we are all trying to do, I just tell them what the shot is going to be and then they do it and invest it with their incredible personalities and talents.

The greatest direction ever given was given by Serge Diaghilev to the great ballet dancer, Nijinsky. Diaghilev said to Nijinksy before he went out to perform, “Etonnez-moi,” which means “surprise me.” I try to always say the equilavent of that to an actor, and they always do.

RELATED RESOURCES/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• "The Hunted" Premiere Video - Interviews with the Cast (Windows Media Format)
  
• "The Hunted" Photo Gallery
  
• "The Hunted" Trailer, Movie News and Websites